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Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP Ministry) www.capalert.com/ Entertainment Media Analysis Report A service to His little ones (which includes at-home teens) through you, their parents and grandparents, in His name by His Word MAR24043  (2004), PG-13 |
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 (2004), PG-13 -- VaPOOrizer not only vaporized doggie dump, it VaPOOrized the humor, too.  Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): DreamWorks SKG, Castle Rock Entertainment, Baltimore Spring Creek Productions, NPV Entertainment Distribution (US): DreamWorks Distribution LLC, Columbia Pictures Director(s): Barry Levinson Producer(s): Larry David, Barry Levinson, Josh McLaglen, Mary McLaglen, Paula Weinstein Written by: Steve Adams Cinematography/Camera: Tim Maurice-Jones Music: Mark Mothersbaugh Film Editing: Blair Daily, Stu Linder Casting: Ellen Lewis Production Design: Victor Kempster Art Direction: Seth Reed Viewed At: Driftwood Theater 6 With names and titles like Stiller, Black, Walken, Weisz, Levinson. DreamWorks, Columbia and Castle Rock, one would think a major production of top-notch quality was in order. Not so. Envy is a dud. In spite of the high wattage names and titles, Envy quite possibly could not have been worse. Tim Dingman (Ben Stiller) and Nick Vanderpark (Jack Black) are nine-to-five blue collar workers. Tim is a mid-level executive at a sandpaper manufacturing company who watches shirt-n-tie co-worker and day dreamer Nick start raking in the loot. Neither Tim or Nick are very excited about their jobs or anything else for that matter ... until Nick comes of with the idea for VaPOOrizer, a spray that vaporizes dog dung so the owners won't have to clean it up. And, of course, we see a man doing just that with a baggie on his hand. And anybody who enjoys seeing a few seconds of only manure in the field of vision - from directly above it in living color - will like Envy. Nick invites Tim to invest only $2000 in the VaPOOrizer venture but Tim refuses to do so. Somewhere along the story Tim loses his job but Nick strikes it rich with his VaPOOrizer and becomes an egocentric stereotype rich man with wife, Natalie (Amy Poehler) who decides to run for "little congress", also known as the state legislature, on an environmental platform which later condemns VaPOOrizer on an EPA technicality - "where does the poo go?" Only the script does not use "poo." Tim's wife, Debbie (Rachel Weisz) gives Tim a hard time for not investing more in Nick's puppy poo spray. After losing his job, Tim starts heeding the advice of a crusty dude in a bar who went by the handle, J-man (Christopher Walken in a University Drama-101 performance). Oddly enough, Tim ends up planting an arrow in J-man's back. Just about every form of animal excrement "humor" is tried and just about everything that can be associated with it. But little works. Envy is more of a tale of jealousy than achievement. [Rom. 13:13] I guess that makes sense for a movie titled Envy. But VaPOOrizer not only vaporized doggie dump, it VaPOOrized the humor, too. VaPOOrizer. I'll bet someone just happened to mentally add an "o" to "vaporize" while swirling their swizzle stick in their martini and built a movie around it and called it Envy to draw attention away from the "matter" of the show. Envy is a very typical PG-13 with loads of foul language [Col. 3:8] including the use of God's name in vain once with and many times without the four letter expletive [Deut. 5:11]. And, yes, a single token use of the most foul of the foul words is thrown in the mix. Drinking and drunkenness are plentiful as well [Eph. 5:18]. The listing in the Findings/Scoring section should tell enough for you to make up your own mind whether this film is fit for your family or not. My recommendation would be to not waste your time. But I don't make recommendations except in extreme cases. And Envy is certainly not an extreme case to which I refer.
SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S) If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ]. If you wish to have full context available, the Blue Letter Bible is a convenient source. If you use the Blue Letter Bible, a new window will open. Close it to return here or use "Window" in your browser's menu bar to alternate between the CAP page and the Blue Letter Bible page. ***Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry*** As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section -- the heart of the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this movie. |
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(The heart of the CAP Analysis Model)  Wanton Violence/Crime (W) Impudence/Hate (I) Sexual Immorality (S) Drugs/Alcohol (D): Offense to God (O) Murder/Suicide (M) |
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| There are some in the entertainment industry who maintain that 1) violent programming is harmless because no studies exist that prove a connection between violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in children, and 2) young people know that television, movies, and video games are simply fantasy. Unfortunately, they are wrong on both accounts." And "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence." I applaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the rest of the story. From our more than eight years of study, I contend that other aberrant behaviors, attitudes, and expressions can be inserted in place of "violence" in that statement. Our Director - Child Psychology Support, a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist concurs. For example, "Viewing arrogance against fair authority may lead to your kids defying you in real life." Or "Viewing sex may lead to sex in real life." Likewise and especially with impudence, hate and foul language. I further contend that any positive behavior can be inserted in place of "violence" with the same chance or likelihood of being a behavior template for the observer; of being incorporated into the behavior mechanics and/or coping skills of the observer. In choosing your entertainment, please consider carefully the "rest of the story" and our findings. |
| In the name of Jesus: Lord, Master, Teacher, Savior, God. Tom Carder President ChildCare Action Project (CAP): Christian Analysis of American Culture 100% dependent on your tax-deductible financial support |  |